Choosing to be Childfree, and Band Aid
This month on the podcast we’re talking about the choice to be childfree, with writer Chanel Dubofsky. In our second segment we’re talking about the film Band Aid with the film’s director and co-star Zoe Lister-Jones.
Further reading
Choosing to be Childfree
No Kids, No Regrets by Esti Ahronovitz in Haaretz
An Open Letter to Sarah Silverman by Rabbi Yaakov Rosenblatt in the Jewish Press
Low-Touch Parenting by Tamar Fox in Lilith Magazine
Regretting Motherhood: A Study by Orna Donath
The Pros and Cons of Having an Only Child by Avital Norman Nachman on Kveller
Band Aid
Band Aid trailer
Zoe Lister-Jones made ‘Band Aid’ with an all-female crew. Your move, Hollywood by Amy Kaufman in the LA Times
Endorsements
Zahava recommends Nechama Leibowitz’s Studies in the Weekly Parasha.
Tamar recommends Holy by Jamila Woods
Planning a wedding, and Jewish Millennials
This month on the podcast we’re talking about Jewish weddings–how can/should we create Jewish wedding rituals that are interesting, relevant, and/or feminist? And for our second segment we’re talking about a divisive piece in Jewish Currents called, A Taxonomy of Stupid Shit the Jewish Establishment Says to Millennials by David A.M. Wilenksy and Gabriel T Erbs.
Further reading
Weddings
A Jewish Woman’s Prayer Book edited by Aliza Lavie
Jewish millennials
A Taxonomy of Stupid Shit the Jewish establishment says to millennials by David A.M. Wilenksy and Gabriel T Erbs
Endorsements
Mimi recommends the The Handmaid’s Tale, and learning with your partner.
Zahava recommends The book I recommended: בקרוב אצלכם הזמנות לחתונה מארץ ישראל תחיה ספיר מוזיאון מישראל
And she also recommends keeping an eye on this Supreme Court case. Here’s a good article on its implications for school vouchers.
Tamar recommends the MyZmanim omer counting reminder emails, and the West Wing Weekly podcast, specifically Joshua Malina’s Jewish riffs.
Rabbi Wolff, and Feminism at the Seder
This month on the podcast we’re talking about Rabbi Wolff, a documentary about a German/British Reform rabbi, and then we’ll be sharing some of our favorite insights from the haggadah.
Further reading
Rabbi Wolff
Rabbi Wolff, a Gentleman Before God, trailer
This 90-year-old German rabbi is now a movie star by Toby Axelrod in JTA
Feminism at the seder
Organizing a Feminist Seder: Oranges, Miriam’s Cup, and More Ideas For Passover by Erika Owen in Bustle
Beyonceder, a tumblr by Amy Schiller
Ask a Grown-up from This American Life.
Inclusive fruits for reactionary timesby Jordana Horn in the UPenn Gazette
Endorsements
Zahava recommends Fault Lines/a> a new podcast about Israel from the Forward.
Mimi recommends the new podcast S-Town, and Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande.
Tamar recommends a version of Ki Lo Naeh that she was taught by her mother. Listen to a version of it on Youtube.
Bomb Threats at JCCs and Queen Esther Beauty Pageants
This month on the podcast we’re talking about the bomb threats to JCCs, and Queen Esther beauty pageants–a fascinating, inclusive and problematic chapter in Zionist history.
Further reading
JCC Bomb threats
Bomb Threats to Jewish Community Centers and Organizations By Ken Schwencke and Al Shaw, for ProPublica
All 100 senators urge swift action to stop threats against Jewish facilities By Ted Barrett, for CNN
Queen Esther beauty pageants
Teaching Megillat Esther by Deborah Kalpper in the Times of Israel
From Passive to Active- Esther as a Role Model by Atara Segal for The Eden Center
Searching for Hebrew Beauty: The Queen Esther Competitions, 1926–1929 by Nina S. Spiegel
A Cinderella Story
Endorsements
Zahava recommends Remember That We Suffered from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend on CW.
Mimi recommends the old TV show Kings, which aired on NBC in 2009, and the Book of Ecclesiastes.
Tamar recommends the book The Fortunate Ones by Ellen Umansky, and the niggunim of Joey Weisenberg, in particular Lincoln’s Nign.
There Are Jews Here and the Immigration & Refugee Ban
This month on the podcast we’re talking about the documentary There are Jews here, by filmmaker Brad Lichtenstein, and the recent Executive Order banning people from seven countries from coming into the US.
Further reading
There Are Jews Here
There Are Jews Here film website
Trailer
Room for Jews by Jesse Bernstein in Tablet
More Jews Than History Here by Michael Jacobs in the Atlanta Jewish Times
Refugee Ban
Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America and Rabbinical Council of America Respond to Executive Order
Statement of Agudath Israel On President Trump’s Executive Immigration Order
IRF Statement on Executive Order Concerning Entrance to the United States from Muslim-Majority Nations
ADL Strongly Condemns President Trump’s Executive Order on Immigration and Refugees
AJC Statement on Trumpt Administration Refugee Policy
HIAS Outraged by Executive Order Suspending Refugee Resettlement Program
Endorsements
Mimi recommends the West Wing episode Take This Sabbath Day and the source sheet Is One Permitted to Punch a White Supremacist in the Face?, compiled by Rabbi Joshua Bolton.
Zahava recommends the letters from Values and Voices.
Tamar recommends The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon, and The Dream of Scipio by Iain Pears.
Jerusalem and Sufganiyot
This week on the podcast we’re talking about Jerusalem (the exhibit at the Met, and the City), and sufganiyot.
Further reading
Jerusalem
Jerusalem: 1000-1400 Every People Under Heaven at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the audio guide
Christian Monks Square Off at One of Jerusalem’s Holiest Sites by Nina Strochlic at The Daily Beast
Armenian and Greek Monks Fight in Jerusalem (video from MSNBC)
Maccabeats sing Im Eshkachech at Batsheva and Jeff’s wedding
Visit the Mifletzet
Zahava recommends spending Tisha B’Av in Jerusalem
Sufganiyot
Zahava made Apple Cider Sufganiyot (Hanukkah Doughnuts) with salted caramel filling from Chowhound but she filled them with apple butter
Mimi made Easiest. Sufganiyot. Ever. from mynameisyeh, but she baked the dough after frying it.
Tamar made Leah Koenig’s Cardamom Glazed Doughnut Bites from Williams Sonoma, and Blueberry Cream Cheese Doughnuts from mynameisyeh, but I made my own filling which was soom, butter, and pwodered sugar. Super delicious.
Zahava suggests sufganiot.com.
Everything You Know About Latkes in Wrong by Yoni Appelbaum in the Atlantic
8 Days (of Hanukkah) by Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings in which a Hanukkah brisket
These Cranberry Curd Nutmeg Donuts are probably delicious but we haven’t tried them.
Zahava mocked this challah recipe that was inexplicably presented by the New York Times as a Hanukkah recipe.
Endorsements
Zahava recommends the Jewish Federation of Cleveland opposing Ohio’s fetal heartbeat bill, and When Politics and Halacha Meet: The Challenge of Abortion by Zachary Truboff in the Times of Israel.
Mimi recommends Jergens Hydrating Coconut Lotion, and The Principals of Uncertainty by Maira Kalman.
Tamar recommends the cookbook Aromas of Aleppo by Poopa Dweck.
Rabbis and Rebbetzins
This week on the podcast we’re talking about what it’s like to be a female rabbi, and what it’s like to be a rebbetzin. For our first segment we have a guest, Rabbi Aviva, who is the rabbi of a Conservative congregation on the East Coast. For our second segment we have Beth, who was a rebbetzin for 8 years in Chicago.
Further reading
Rabbis
Rabbis in the United States from the Jewish Women’s Archive
Rebbetzins
Annual Rebbetzins Conference put on by the Orthodox Union
The Rebbetzin in American Jewish Life by Shuly Schwartz
Endorsements
Zahava recommends George Washington’s letter to Touro Synagogue in Newport Rhode Island.
Mimi endorses a Spicy Quinoa Salad With Broccoli, Cilantro and Lime which is great for Jewish potlucks, and is excellent comfort food.
Tamar recommends the poetry of Jeanne Lohmann, especially the poem Praise What Comes, and Amit’s rules for talking in shul.
Saying Yizkor, and Being a Single Jewish Lady Looking for Love
This week on the podcast we’re talking about Yizkor, the memorial prayer that’s said on Yom Kippur, and about what it’s really like to be a single Jewish woman looking for a partner. For the second segment we’ll be joined by Deena, a single Jewish woman in New York who will give us some real talk.
Further reading
Yizkor
Alternative Yizkor Prayers To Say For Abusive Parents at MyJewishLearning.com
Not the “Shidduch Crisis”
The Shidduch Crisis Blame Game by Josh Yuter in the Forward
Endorsements
Mimi is thinking about Jewish garb, and the signals that they send. She is also thinking about kittels and heteronormativity.
Zahava recommends When God is Near: On the High Holidays by Rabbi Yehuda Amital, and the TV show It Takes a Church, a matchmaking show for single women in their church.
Tamar recommends the Spotify playlists Songs for Elul, Love and Longing I, and Love and Longing II, curated by Rabbi Yosef Goldman, and the poem Try to Praise the Mutilated World by Adam Zagajewski.
Kaddish: The Podcast, and Indignation
This week on the podcast we’re talking about the new podcast Kaddish: The Podcast, and for that segment we’ll be joined by creator and producer Ariana Katz, and for our second segment we’ll be talking about the new movie Indignation.
Further reading
Kaddish: The Podcast
Kaddish:The Podcast in iTunes
Indignation
Indignation trailer
Review of the book Indigation in the New York Times (spoilers)
Review in the New Yorker
Endorsements
Ariana recommends the August 12th Black Lives Matter action by JFREJ. Listen to the treyf podcast version.
Mimi recommends the The New Jewish Wedding by Anita Diamant and asks for suggestions of good things to read and listen to about making a Jewish wedding. She also recommends Debbie Friedman’s Mourner’s Kaddish.
Zahava recommends By the Arch of Titus: Spending Tisha B’Av in Rome by Jake Marmer in Tablet.
Tamar recommends visiting your local criminal court in preparation for Rosh Hashanah.
Soon By You, and Jewish Responses to Policing
This week on the podcast we’re talking about the new webseries about Orthodox dating, Soon By You, and for that segment we’ll be joined by creator and actress Leah Gottfried, and for our second segment we’ll be talking about the Jewish take on policing with Rabbi Jill Jacobs, executive director of T’ruah.
Further reading
Soon By You
Soon By You Youtube channel
‘Soon By You’ Depicts the Trials and Tribulations of Modern Orthodox Dating by Sara Trappler Spielman in Tablet
Soon By You on Facebook
Dating Chatter With the Cast of Soon By You from the Forward
Jewish Views on Policing
T’ruah sources on Policing
A six page text study on policing in Jewish law by Rabbi Jill Jacobs
Endorsements
Zahava recommends The Kramer Family Song Booklet, available for purchase used.
Mimi recommends the Pocket Torah app for helping to learn your leyning.
Tamar recommends her own advice tumblr, What Does T Fox Say, and the dating web series Seeking, particularly episode 3, which is based on a terrible/hilarious date Tamar once experienced.